Tips, tricks to help you — and the turtles — during hatchings

Thursday

Aug 25, 2016 at 7:15 PMAug 25, 2016 at 7:18 PM

Karen Sota Special to Topsail Advertiser

Although our turtle mamas are still technically “on the clock” with the official nesting season continuing through this month, it’s their babies that have taken over the spotlight. With over 160 nests at this writing hatchlings really do rule, not only now but through early fall as the eggs continue incubating. With the patter of thousands of tiny flippers on Topsail it’s time for a quick review of some of our FAQ’s.

When will a nest hatch? By far it’s the question we’re asked the most, and no matter how many times we get it our answer is still the same: We don’t know. We’re not being maliciously obtuse, it’s the truth. We don’t know when these turtle babies will be “born” any better than you know exactly the date and time of your granddaughter’s birth. They come out whenever they’re ready.

How long do the eggs stay in the sand? The average incubation period is 60 days, but that’s only an average. Air and sand temperature can affect the actual incubation period with hotter sand sometimes speeding up the process. And we’ve had a very hot summer, so a lot of our nests look like they might go a bit earlier. As we move into the cooler fall temperatures (we hope they’re cooler, anyway) their time in the sand will probably be closer to the average.

Is there any way to guess when a nest is ready? Sort of. Obviously the first thing to look at is when the nest was laid and when those 60 days might be getting close. But it’s not like mom leaves a calendar with the date circled with her clutch. Like people, you have early risers. And once they break out of their shell, using a special adaptation referred to as their “egg tooth” (technical name caruncle) they start jostling their neighbors out of their slumber. Pretty soon everybody is up and kicking. All of that activity underneath causes the sand on the surface to begin to sink.

If it looks like a nest may hatch what else can I look for? Turtle Project volunteers will create a ramp, a smoothed area with sand “guardrails” that will hopefully guide the little critters safely in the direction of the surf. Hatchlings are so tiny that even a small footprint in the sand can trap them or delay their trip. And since they’ve been living in the dark for months any bright light can disorient them, sending them quickly off-course. They head toward the brightest object around which ideally is the moon and its reflection on the water and waves. A sure sign that a nest is close, at least according to our decades of experience, is the sight of our “nest sitters” huddled around a nest from dusk until the wee hours of the morning — hoping.

What happens during a hatch? It’s a group effort, a real family affair, at least for the turtles. They work together to battle through the broken shells and the constant flipper-in-the-face to make their way toward the surface. It’s dig and rest, dig and rest. As they near the top the group comes to a stop and waits just below the surface. Millions of years of existence as a species have told them that predatory attack is less likely at night, so they’re waiting for the sun to set and the sand temperature at the surface to cool down. At that point they emerge in mass in what we call a “boil.” If all goes well they locate the horizon and make a mad dash for the surf.

Why are the Turtle Project volunteers there? From the 1970s Karen Beasley and her mother (our hospital director, Jean) recognized the increasing stressors of coastal development and the natural affinity we all have for the sea and the impact on sea turtles. Our volunteers are there to minimize any adverse effects we humans may have on this critical step in the continuation of the species. These are federally protected and critically endangered animals, and when our “nest sitters” are on-the-job they are the final word on protocol. They are there for crowd control and for education and there are specific rules to follow if you are fortunate enough to actually see a nest hatch.

Sit quietly, away from the nest and ramp area. It may or may not boil, and if it does it may be hours before you see the first flipper. If you become impatient please step away.

Do not use flash photography or use your phone as a “flashlight.” Do not use any flashlight unless you have a special red filter. Ideally you should turn your phone off and pay attention to the miracle you’re about to see.

Keep children and yourself away from the nesting area. Do not wander near or in front of the ramp. Do not bring your pets with you.

Do not chase after or touch the hatchlings. Our volunteers are on-hand to redirect any hatchlings who stray off course.

You may ask any questions of our volunteers, but please do so respectfully. They operate under federal regulations and what they say goes. This is not a venue for a political or philosophical debate.

I missed the hatch — am I out of luck? Not necessarily. If you’re going to be around for a while you can come to the nest analysis which is done during daylight hours, three days after the hatch. Volunteers will carefully excavate the nest and document their findings. And the “findings” will often include a few late risers who didn’t hear the alarm go off. Data collected will include the total number of eggs (including unhatched,) the number of live hatches and any other things of note. If you missed the boil this is the next best thing and worth your time. Our volunteers are a bit more relaxed, and you can still ask them any questions you may have.

What do I do if I find a hatchling on the beach? Carefully pick it up and put it in a small container with only a small amount of water — barely cover the flippers. With this extreme heat it’s important that the little critter not bake in the sun for hours. Then call our Director of Beach Operations Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880. If she is not available you may call the hospital during operating hours: 910-329-0222. We will take the information and one of our area coordinators will meet you to retrieve the hatchling and refer it to us for follow-up.

Anything else? Some obvious things: Turn off any bright outdoor lights that would send hatchlings in the wrong direction; pick up all beach paraphernalia (chairs, toys, towels) and take it with you when you leave and fill in any holes you dig. You can track the nesting activity on our website: seaturtlehospital.org. It features a timeline and other info for each nest. Please do not call the hospital to ask about any specific nest — we don’t have the data in front of us and are unable to answer that question. While some of our volunteers are busy with the babes on the beach, our hospital staff is occupied working with the survivors. Visit us during tour hours to see the ones who actually made it because so few do.

Hospital tour schedule update

We are open for tours through Labor Day week, the last week of our five day schedule. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays and Sundays. We will not be open for tours on Sept. 3 or 5. Our tour schedule changes beginning the week of Sept. 11. We will be open only on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through the end of the year.

Admission is $5 adults; $4 seniors (65+) and active military with ID and $3 for children 13 and over. Our weather remains extremely hot, with heat indices over 100 degrees. Bring an umbrella to make your own shade and make sure you, and especially your children are well hydrated. We do our best to get you inside as quickly as possible but we also want to allow enough time for everybody to enjoy their visit. The hospital is located at 302 Tortuga Lane in Surf City. From N.C. 210/50 turn onto Charlie Medlin Drive. (Shipwreck Point Mini Golf is your landmark) and follow it through the roundabout onto Tortuga. Our gift shop is open during tours and we have a lot of exclusive hospital clothing and plush animal merchandise, and lots of sea turtle “stuff.” Come in and meet our turtles, our staff and our interns. We all speak fluent sea turtle.

All turtles are important — and so are you

Even with all the coverage by our Topsail Turtle Project volunteers it’s possible to miss nesting signs for a variety of reasons. That’s why we ask you to be our extra eyes and to report any tracks to Director of Beach Operations Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880. And we continue to admit many turtles with various injuries or illnesses. Please be on the lookout for any turtle in distress, injured (or dead) and call Meyer, Hospital Director Jean Beasley at 910-470-2800 or the State of NC hotline for stranded, sick and injured turtles at 252-241-7367. The state number picks up 24/7.

Questions, comments, suggestions?

Please direct any questions, comments or suggestions re: this column to me at flippers@att.net. This column will appear every week through the summer.

Karen Sota is the volunteer media coordinator for the Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach.